Can-opener.



A. MENDENHALL.

CAN OPENER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 10. 1915.

Patented May 9,1916.

@Vibweooab ALBERT MENDENHALL, OF OSKALOOSA, IOWA.

CAN-OPENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 9, 19i6.

Application filed September 10, 1915. Serial No. 50,020.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALBERT MENDENHALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at ()skaloosa, in the county of Mahaska and State of 1owa,have invented new and useful Improvements in Can-Openers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention contemplates the provision of a can opener of novel construction, primarily intended for use in hotels, cafes and the like, it being constructed to partly or entirely remove the top from the can in a single operation thereby both facilitating and expediting such duty.

The invention resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully' described and claimed.

in the drawing forming part of this application like numerals of reference indicate similar parts and wherein the figure in the drawing shows a perspective view of the invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawing A indicates generally a support, which may be a table or the like including supporting legs 5 whereby the support A can be placed upon a counter, stand or other suitable support.

Slidably mounted through a suitable opening in the support A, is a plunger rod 6 carrying the cutter 7, and having its lower end pivotally connected with the operating lever 8 below the support A. at a point adjacent one end of the lever, the said end being pivotally connected to a base 9 secured in any suitable manner to one of the supporting legs 5 and adapted to engage the surface upon which the support A rests. The cutter 7 is constructed from a single length of suitable metal into cylindrical form and has its lower edge cut to provide the teeth 10. The cutter is adjustably mounted upon the plunger rod 6 through the medium of the bra cket 11, which latter is substantially U-shaped and has its parallel limbs 12 suitably connected with the cutter disposing the latter slightly in advance of the rod 6, the parallel portions receiving the rod through suitable alined openings 13 to provide for the above mentioned adjustment. Passed through the cross piece 14 of the bracket is a set screw 15 adapted to bear against the rod 6 for the purpose of holding the bracket and cutter in any desired adjusted position upon the rod. Man ifestly by reason of this construction and arrangement the cutter may be properly adjusted to accommodate itself to different size cans, or in other words cans of different heights to be opened. Eucircling the rod (3 is a coil spring 16 having one end bearing against the support A and its opposite end against the bracket 11, and operating to return the cutter and rod 6 to normal position subsequent to the cutting operation.

In use the can to be opened is arranged upon the support A beneath the cutter 7, subsequent to which the lever 8 is depressed by the foot of the operator, or otherwise, thereby lowering the plunger rod 6 and forcing the cutter 7 through the top of the can.

It is believed that from the foregoing description the nature and advantages of the invention may be thoroughly understood without requiring a more extended explana tion and therefore the same has been omitted. However I desire to have it understood that various changes in the construction and arrangement of parts may be re sorted to when desired as fall within the scope of the appended claim.

Wh atis claimed is In a can opener, a bracket formed from a single length of material, including a base, and a substantially inverted U-shaped portion, the terminals of the material being offset laterally with respect to said U- shaped portion and disposed in superimposed contacting engagement, the cutting element carried by said terminals, a rod passed loosely through said base and U- shaped portion, and a set screw adjustably associated with said Ushaped portion for engagement with said rod whereby the bracket is effectively held in operative position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT MENDENHALL. lVitnesses:

RAY HORTON, MARGARET BENNETT.

@opies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G." 

